Max Domi's Shockingly Good Game 7 Track Record May Give the Leafs a Huge Advantage

Tonight's Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers represents the Leafs' biggest game in over 2 decades. Win, and they advance past the 2nd round for the first time since 2002. Lose, and it's another early post-season exit for the most snakebitten NHL franchise.

The Leafs will need all hands on deck tonight, especially when you factor in their record in elimination games since 2018. They'll need strong performances from their bottom-6 to help out their top guns.

One of those players will be Max Domi, who at one point, seemed destined to visit the press box after Game 5. Head coach Craig Berube said he would have to mull things over after yet another undisciplined effort that saw him rack 18 PIMs.

Berube kept Domi in the lineup and he came through in a big way in Game 6, as he not only assisted on Max Pacioretty's insurance tally in the third period, but he also played pretty well defensively, and stayed away from the penalty box for just the second time in the series.

Riding that kind of momentum will be key for a top-9 contributor like Domi, but what should also help is his Game 7 track record. The veteran has scored 3 goals and 4 points in 4 Game 7's dating back to 2022.

Domi scored 2 goals and added an assist as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes during their 1st round battle against the Boston Bruins in 2022 and then added another goal in the following round during their 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers.

As Pacioretty was quoted as saying after Game 6, tonight, everyone is going to war, and they're going to need everyone to contribute if they want to eliminate the defending champions.

Look for Domi to remain a factor with his aggressive play and secondary scoring as he is expected to reprise his role on the third line alongside Pacioretty and Bobby McMann.